The best day trips from Melbourne
Sun-splashed beaches, foodie hotspots, heritage towns and adorable Aussie animals are waiting for you in the areas surrounding Melbourne. You can even explore the iconic Great Ocean Road, one of the country's most spectacular driving routes. Throw in a famous Penguin Parade, soothing hot springs, lush forests and a couple of uber-cute country towns, and you have an incredible lineup of places to explore no more than a few hours' drive from Victoria's capital.
Don’t have a car? No problem! Several of these day trips are easily accessible by train and bus. Ready to start exploring? Here are our picks for the top day trip destinations near Melbourne.
Great Ocean Road
Image: Visit Victoria
Victoria’s Great Ocean Road skirts one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful stretches of coastline in Australia. It starts at Torquay, about a 90-minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD, and it will be hard to keep your eyes on the road as you cruise along the plunging sea cliffs.
Just offshore, towering rock pinnacles, called the Twelve Apostles, rise from the pounding surf in Port Campbell National Park, and the wind-and-sea-sculpted Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch also provide eye-popping photo ops.
Your favourite Aussie animals are easy to spot nearby. Hike the trails and look for koalas near Kennett River, or head to Great Otway National Park to see kangaroos and wallabies. For bird’s-eye views of the fragrant forest, zoom across the canopy on a zipline at Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, or teeter along the treetop walk. Famous for its fresh-off-the-boat seafood, the nearby town of Apollo Bay makes a lovely lunch stop.
Lorne is another worthwhile place to visit on this famous road trip from Melbourne. Here, you can brush up on your history at the Great Ocean Road Story exhibit at Lorne Visitor Centre and soak up the views from Teddy’s Lookout.
If you’re an avid surfer, check out the Australian National Surfing Museum in Torquay and the legendary swells of Bells Beach. Ride them if you dare!
Phillip Island
Image: Visit Victoria
About 140 kilometers from the city centre, Phillip Island is a top place to see Aussie animals in the wild. Every day at sunset, wild penguins waddle up the beach at the famous Penguin Parade, and you can score a front-row seat.
Stop by The Nobbies Reserve before the parade to learn more about this fragile ecosystem. Australia's largest fur seal colony is also just offshore from here at Seal Rocks.
Phillip Island also hosts plenty of other cute Aussie critters. You can see koalas in their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Reserve.
The Mornington Peninsula
Image: Visit Victoria
A breezy 90-minute drive from Melbourne transports you to one of the most popular getaways from Melbourne: the golden beaches and elegant seaside villages of the Mornington Peninsula, nestled between the ocean and Port Phillip Bay.
At the heart of the Peninsula lies Sorrento. Here, you can browse the hip boutiques, admire heritage architecture and sip a cuppa at a cozy café. You can also stroll along Millionaire's Walk, a scenic five-kilometer clifftop trail where the posh pads of Australia's elite grace prime real estate between here and Portsea.
Nature lovers will find plenty of things to do, too. Explore back-beach trails, traverse the rugged bushland at Point Nepean National Park, soak up the sights on the Sorrento-Queenscliff ferry or swim with wild bottlenose dolphins and seals.
If you crave some pampering and you’re happy to splurge, head to Peninsula Hot Springs. You can top off a soothing soak in the mineral springs here with a customized massage and a belly-warming organic meal.
The Dandenong Ranges
Image: Visit Victoria
A day trip to the Dandenong Ranges, 40 kilometers east of Melbourne, is a salve for the soul. Pack a picnic, wander among lush forests of towering mountain ash trees and hike to serene cascades in Sherbrooke Forest.
Belgrave is also worth a visit. Hop aboard the century-old Puffing Billy steam train or explore artisan shops. Then, refuel with a decadent Devonshire tea in storybook-cute villages like Olinda.
For garden lovers, the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, Alfred Nicholas Memorial Gardens and Cloudehill Gardens are other must-see attractions.
Ballarat
Image: Visit Victoria
If you’re looking for day trips from Melbourne without a car, the historic gold rush town of Ballarat is an easy 85-minute train trip from the CBD.
Lydiard Street is a great place to kick off a tour and soak up some of the town’s rich history. Pick up a brochure and map at the visitor centre (or download one on your phone) for the free self-guided Historic Streetscapes Walking Tour.
Sovereign Hill, a meticulously recreated gold-mining town, transports you back to the exciting days of Australia’s 1850s gold rush, and the Eureka Centre Ballarat delves into the historic 1854 Eureka Stockade rebellion.
After soaking up all the history, take advantage of some of the many free things to do in Ballarat: You can tour Art Gallery Ballarat, one of Australia’s best regional galleries, or stroll around the serene 40-acre Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the shores of Lake Wendouree.
Castlemaine
Image: Visit Victoria
Castlemaine makes a great Melbourne day trip if you’re craving culture and character. Start your visit by strolling around the funky art galleries, boutiques and cafés.
Then head to The Mill Castlemaine, a reimagined 1870s woollen mill and a hub of arts, food and culture. Here, you can shop for vintage and upcycled treasures, enjoy a coffee from the Viennese Das Kaffeehaus, sample craft brews, sip small-batch wines, get a sugar buzz and watch local artists hone their crafts.
Before you head home, save time to admire the Australian art and cultural artefacts at Castlemaine Art Museum, then wrap up your day with a sweet treat or a light dinner at a cozy Castlemaine café.
Daylesford
Image: Visit Victoria
For a romantic day trip from Melbourne or a girls’ day out, Daylesford is the ultimate pampering Melbourne getaway. This ‘spa capital of Australia’ is only 115 kilometers from the city, and if you’re looking for easy-to-access day trips from Melbourne by train and bus, this is a great option.
Splurge on treatments at the nearby Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa or opt for the more affordable Bathhouse Mineral Bathing sessions. Then continue the pampering with panoramic views and high tea at The Convent, an art-filled 19th-century estate atop Wombat Hill.
End your idyllic Daylesford day trip by browsing the town's quaint shops, antique markets and historic buildings, or take a stroll around Lake Daylesford, home to the legendary Lake House restaurant. And if you happen to be visiting Daylesford in March, check out the ChillOut Festival. Held every year over the Labour Day long weekend, it’s one of the top LGBTQIA+ festivals in regional Australia.
The Yarra Valley
Image: Visit Victoria
Calling all foodies! The Yarra Valley should be top on your list for wine tasting, craft breweries, distillery hopping and gourmet dining. Tastings are the name of the game here, from the artisanal farmyard cheeses at Yarra Valley Dairy to the sweet treats at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. Save time to enjoy a meal at an award-winning local restaurant, too.
If a liquid lunch is more your style, stop by a few of the area’s popular breweries or distilleries. Sample a G&T paddle at Four Pillars Gin in Healesville, or sip your way around the region’s many wineries.
And yes, you’ll find adorable Aussie animals here, too. At the Healesville Sanctuary, you can get up close to kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, emus, wombats and more.
Wilsons Promontory National Park
Image: Visit Victoria
A worthwhile three-hour drive from the city, Wilsons Promontory National Park is one of the top nature day trips from Melbourne. Affectionately called ‘The Prom’ by locals, it’s the state's largest coastal wilderness and one of the best national parks to visit near the city.
Hike the Mount Oberon Summit Walk, visit Fairy Cove and the Big Drift sand dunes, feel the silky-soft quartz sands at Squeaky Beach and explore Lilly Pilly Gully and the sea-sculpted boulders of Whisky Bay.
The park is also a sanctuary for native wildlife, including wombats, emus, kangaroos and a dazzling array of birds. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, camping and bird-watching are other top things to do.
Words: K. Hastings
Read next: 50 free things to do in Melbourne
